EMPORIA, Kan. — A Lyon County jury has found Adam Jay Hrabik, 45, of Lyons, guilty of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced Friday.

Hrabik was charged in connection with the October 2020 shooting of Lyons Police Officer Cory Ryan and Lyons High School teacher Brian Friess. Officer Ryan was shot multiple times while responding to a 911 call from Friess, who had reported being threatened with a firearm. Both men sustained serious injuries, and Ryan spent nearly two weeks hospitalized in Wichita before recovering.

Originally charged with attempted capital murder, Hrabik was convicted after nearly five years of legal proceedings. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Nicole Southall and J.D. Hatcher, and investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation with support from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Rice County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol.

“We are deeply thankful for the tireless efforts and commitment of our law enforcement partners,” said Southall. “It is a profound relief to see justice delivered for the victims, whose strength in the face of hardship is truly commendable.”

Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme praised the courage of law enforcement officers, stating, “We commend their unwavering courage and resilience in the face of danger.”

Hrabik is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21 at 1:00 p.m. in Rice County District Court by Senior Judge Merlin Wheeler.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751056811541.png" alt="Hrabik photo Lyon Co." />
 <figcaption>Hrabik photo Lyon Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>EMPORIA, Kan. — A Lyon County jury has found Adam Jay Hrabik, 45, of Lyons, guilty of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer and aggravated assault, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced Friday.Hrabik was charged in connection with the October 2020 shooting of Lyons Police Officer Cory Ryan and Lyons High School teacher Brian Friess. Officer Ryan was shot multiple times while responding to a 911 call from Friess, who had reported being threatened with a firearm. Both men sustained serious injuries, and Ryan spent nearly two weeks hospitalized in Wichita before recovering.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1751055784729.png" alt="Law enforcement on the scene in Lyons in 2020 -file photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Law enforcement on the scene in Lyons in 2020 -file photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>Originally charged with attempted capital murder, Hrabik was convicted after nearly five years of legal proceedings. The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Nicole Southall and J.D. Hatcher, and investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation with support from multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Rice County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Highway Patrol.“We are deeply thankful for the tireless efforts and commitment of our law enforcement partners,” said Southall. “It is a profound relief to see justice delivered for the victims, whose strength in the face of hardship is truly commendable.”Deputy Attorney General Jessica Domme praised the courage of law enforcement officers, stating, “We commend their unwavering courage and resilience in the face of danger.”Hrabik is scheduled to be sentenced on August 21 at 1:00 p.m. in Rice County District Court by Senior Judge Merlin Wheeler.

Jury: Man guilty in attempted murder of Kansas officer

Missouri is one of only two states in which judges can unilaterally impose the death penalty when a jury can’t agree on whether the defendant should be sentenced to death. In most other states, a deadlocked jury results in a sentence of life without parole

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

A Missouri man who was sentenced to death by a trial judge in 2009 despite a jury deadlocking on whether he should be executed has been scheduled to undergo lethal injection in October.&nbsp;

The Missouri Supreme Court last week issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC90286WARRANT.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209718" target="_blank">warrant</a>&nbsp;for the execution of Lance Shockley, who recently exhausted his state and federal appeals and was convicted of the 2005 murder of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr.&nbsp;

The court announced the execution date last week.

Graham was shot and killed in his rural Carter County driveway. Graham had been investigating Shockley’s role in a fatal drunk driving accident, which the prosecution argued gave Shockley the motive to kill him. Shockley has insisted he’s innocent.

A jury in 2009 found Shockley guilty of first-degree murder. But&nbsp;in the punishment phase of Shockley’s trial, the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on whether he should be executed.&nbsp;

In most states with active death penalty laws, that deadlock would have resulted in the defendant being sentenced to life without parole.&nbsp;

But under Missouri law, Shockley’s penalty case then got handed off to a Carter County circuit judge who, after independent review, sentenced him to death.

Only Missouri and Indiana give judges the authority to unilaterally decide on the death penalty, a fact that&nbsp;<a href="https://philadelphia.citybuzz.co/article/483510/dla-piper-files-amicus-brief-with-us-supreme-court-in-missouri-capital-case" target="_blank">over the years</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-missouri-lets-judges-impose-death-sentences-if-juries-dont-that-should-change/article_b6c15e00-4cc4-11ee-bd57-8b920a2a85f0.html" target="_blank">has drawn scrutiny</a>&nbsp;from those who believe it places too much power in the hands of one person and denies defendants their constitutional rights to trial by jury and protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

In 2023 Amber McLaughlin was executed because of the unilateral decision of a trial judge.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article270281972.html" target="_blank">S</a><a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article270281972.html" target="_blank">everal retired judges&nbsp;</a>opposed the execution in a letter to then-Gov. Mike Parson, calling it a “flaw in Missouri’s capital sentencing scheme.”

An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pogo.org/analysis/who-should-make-decision-on-life-and-death" target="_blank">analysis included in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court organized by the national nonprofit watchdog group Project on Government Oversight&nbsp;</a>found Missouri judges, who are elected in most parts of the state, have been more likely than juries to impose death sentences.&nbsp;

In cases without jury deadlock, from 2000 to 2018, the jury imposed a death sentence in 64% of cases. But in deadlocked cases with a trial judge making the decision, the death penalty was imposed in 86% of cases, according to the brief.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/10/group-of-republican-lawmakers-raise-concerns-about-missouri-death-penalty/">in recent years have filed legislation&nbsp;</a>to eliminate judge-imposed executions, but the proposals have made little progress.

Shockley has denied his involvement in Graham’s death, citing the lack of physical evidence or eyewitnesses. His attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/APPELLANT%20LANCE%20SHOCKLEYS%20SUR-REPLY%20IN%20OPPOSITION%20TO%20THE%20STATES%20MOTION%20TO%20SET%20AN%20EXECUTION%20DATE.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209165" target="_blank">have tried</a>&nbsp;unsuccessfully to get evidence from the crime scene tested for DNA and have argued the police failed to investigate other possible suspects.

“Shockley’s defense at trial was that he was not the one who killed Sgt. Graham,” his attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/APPELLANT%20LANCE%20SHOCKLEYS%20SUR-REPLY%20IN%20OPPOSITION%20TO%20THE%20STATES%20MOTION%20TO%20SET%20AN%20EXECUTION%20DATE.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209165" target="_blank">wrote in a brief last month.</a>&nbsp;“Shockley has never wavered in that position.”&nbsp;

His attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

The prosecution said Shockley borrowed a relative’s car the afternoon of Graham’s death and the car matched the description witnesses gave of one parked near Graham’s house the afternoon of his murder. Prosecutors also argued the recovered bullets may have been consistent with the caliber of a rifle Shockley owned. No murder weapon was found.

The Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/supreme-court/2013/sc90286.html" target="_blank">Supreme Court</a>, responding to the defense’s argument that the death penalty was excessive or disproportionate punishment for a case relying on circumstantial proof, said courts have previously upheld death sentences in cases hinging on strong circumstantial evidence and here, “the circumstantial evidence was strong.”

Shockley would be the first person executed in Missouri this year, barring intervention from Gov. Mike Kehoe or the U.S. Supreme Court.&nbsp;

Last year, Missouri executed four people. It was one of four states responsible for 76% of executions that year,&nbsp;<a href="https://dpic-cdn.org/production/documents/DPI-2024-Year-End-Report.pdf?dm=1735847939" target="_blank">according to the Death Penalty Information Center.&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750874127475.png" alt="Shockley photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Shockley photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri is one of only two states in which judges can unilaterally impose the death penalty when a jury can’t agree on whether the defendant should be sentenced to death. In most other states, a deadlocked jury results in a sentence of life without parole</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A Missouri man who was sentenced to death by a trial judge in 2009 despite a jury deadlocking on whether he should be executed has been scheduled to undergo lethal injection in October.&nbsp;The Missouri Supreme Court last week issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC90286WARRANT.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209718" target="_blank">warrant</a>&nbsp;for the execution of Lance Shockley, who recently exhausted his state and federal appeals and was convicted of the 2005 murder of Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Carl Dewayne Graham Jr.&nbsp;The court announced the execution date last week.Graham was shot and killed in his rural Carter County driveway. Graham had been investigating Shockley’s role in a fatal drunk driving accident, which the prosecution argued gave Shockley the motive to kill him. Shockley has insisted he’s innocent.A jury in 2009 found Shockley guilty of first-degree murder. But&nbsp;in the punishment phase of Shockley’s trial, the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision on whether he should be executed.&nbsp;In most states with active death penalty laws, that deadlock would have resulted in the defendant being sentenced to life without parole.&nbsp;But under Missouri law, Shockley’s penalty case then got handed off to a Carter County circuit judge who, after independent review, sentenced him to death.Only Missouri and Indiana give judges the authority to unilaterally decide on the death penalty, a fact that&nbsp;<a href="https://philadelphia.citybuzz.co/article/483510/dla-piper-files-amicus-brief-with-us-supreme-court-in-missouri-capital-case" target="_blank">over the years</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-missouri-lets-judges-impose-death-sentences-if-juries-dont-that-should-change/article_b6c15e00-4cc4-11ee-bd57-8b920a2a85f0.html" target="_blank">has drawn scrutiny</a>&nbsp;from those who believe it places too much power in the hands of one person and denies defendants their constitutional rights to trial by jury and protection against cruel and unusual punishment.In 2023 Amber McLaughlin was executed because of the unilateral decision of a trial judge.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article270281972.html" target="_blank">S</a><a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article270281972.html" target="_blank">everal retired judges&nbsp;</a>opposed the execution in a letter to then-Gov. Mike Parson, calling it a “flaw in Missouri’s capital sentencing scheme.”An&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pogo.org/analysis/who-should-make-decision-on-life-and-death" target="_blank">analysis included in an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court organized by the national nonprofit watchdog group Project on Government Oversight&nbsp;</a>found Missouri judges, who are elected in most parts of the state, have been more likely than juries to impose death sentences.&nbsp;In cases without jury deadlock, from 2000 to 2018, the jury imposed a death sentence in 64% of cases. But in deadlocked cases with a trial judge making the decision, the death penalty was imposed in 86% of cases, according to the brief.A bipartisan group of lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/10/group-of-republican-lawmakers-raise-concerns-about-missouri-death-penalty/">in recent years have filed legislation&nbsp;</a>to eliminate judge-imposed executions, but the proposals have made little progress.Shockley has denied his involvement in Graham’s death, citing the lack of physical evidence or eyewitnesses. His attorneys&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/APPELLANT%20LANCE%20SHOCKLEYS%20SUR-REPLY%20IN%20OPPOSITION%20TO%20THE%20STATES%20MOTION%20TO%20SET%20AN%20EXECUTION%20DATE.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209165" target="_blank">have tried</a>&nbsp;unsuccessfully to get evidence from the crime scene tested for DNA and have argued the police failed to investigate other possible suspects.“Shockley’s defense at trial was that he was not the one who killed Sgt. Graham,” his attorney&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/APPELLANT%20LANCE%20SHOCKLEYS%20SUR-REPLY%20IN%20OPPOSITION%20TO%20THE%20STATES%20MOTION%20TO%20SET%20AN%20EXECUTION%20DATE.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=209165" target="_blank">wrote in a brief last month.</a>&nbsp;“Shockley has never wavered in that position.”&nbsp;His attorney didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.The prosecution said Shockley borrowed a relative’s car the afternoon of Graham’s death and the car matched the description witnesses gave of one parked near Graham’s house the afternoon of his murder. Prosecutors also argued the recovered bullets may have been consistent with the caliber of a rifle Shockley owned. No murder weapon was found.The Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/supreme-court/2013/sc90286.html" target="_blank">Supreme Court</a>, responding to the defense’s argument that the death penalty was excessive or disproportionate punishment for a case relying on circumstantial proof, said courts have previously upheld death sentences in cases hinging on strong circumstantial evidence and here, “the circumstantial evidence was strong.”Shockley would be the first person executed in Missouri this year, barring intervention from Gov. Mike Kehoe or the U.S. Supreme Court.&nbsp;Last year, Missouri executed four people. It was one of four states responsible for 76% of executions that year,&nbsp;<a href="https://dpic-cdn.org/production/documents/DPI-2024-Year-End-Report.pdf?dm=1735847939" target="_blank">according to the Death Penalty Information Center.&nbsp;</a>

Execution date set for man sentenced to die for killing Patrol Sgt.

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported one new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 80 cases in 11 counties.

The Associated Press reported the U.S. logged fewer than 20&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">measles cases</a>&nbsp;last week, though Iowa announced the state's first outbreak Thursday and Georgia confirmed its second Wednesday.

There have been 1,214 confirmed measles cases this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak</a>&nbsp;raged during the late winter and spring, confirmed six cases in the last week.

There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,179 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through June 17. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.

Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">996 as of Thursday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 2,335 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.

Other U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Arizona, Colorado, Illinois,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

In the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">epicenter in West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>&nbsp;and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Health officials declared earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania over after six weeks of no new cases. Tennessee’s outbreak also appears to be over.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year. Most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."

Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="&nbsp;Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health on Wednesday reported one new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 80 cases in 11 counties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750876489660.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Associated Press reported the U.S. logged fewer than 20&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">measles cases</a>&nbsp;last week, though Iowa announced the state's first outbreak Thursday and Georgia confirmed its second Wednesday.There have been 1,214 confirmed measles cases this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak</a>&nbsp;raged during the late winter and spring, confirmed six cases in the last week.There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,179 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through June 17. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">996 as of Thursday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 2,335 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.Other U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Arizona, Colorado, Illinois,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/aP4Au/?v=3">Kansas</a>, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.In the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">epicenter in West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>&nbsp;and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.Health officials declared earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania over after six weeks of no new cases. Tennessee’s outbreak also appears to be over.Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year. Most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.People who have documentation that they had measles are immune and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>

Fewer new measles cases in Kansas this week

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Construction is scheduled to begin&nbsp; before the end of the year on homes in the Grove addition.

The addition will include 50 single-family homes, 50 villas and four duplexes.

Construction crews, which are ahead of schedule, are very close to completing the streets, sewer, water curbs and gutters. That work is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, followed by the electrical installation.&nbsp;

Construction on houses should start in September or October.

The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52b97519-b934-46eb-bdf3-8bd246bf2675">Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center</a>&nbsp;is expected to be completed by late July. The center will be the new home for the Hays Senior Center, a new child care center operated by Bright Minds Academy and multi-use community rooms.

A ribbon cutting for that facility is set for 9 a.m. Aug. 29.

Grow Hays is still a little short of budget for the community center. Anyone interesting in donating to that project can contact Grow Hays at&nbsp;785-628-3102.

Mayor Sandy Jacobs said the community center will be an amazing facility. She said she expects many more seniors to participate in the senior center when it moves into its new facility.

"Besides that, when you walk into that big open space with the glass in the back, it is really a special place," she said, "and I can't imagine if I lived in the Grove that I wouldn't want to rent those units for family gatherings."

The other housing addition Grow Hays has been heavily involved with, the Tallgrass Addition, has been highly successful, Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, said.

Since developers began building there in 2022, all the homes have sold before they were completed, with a waiting list still in place.

That demand, combined with a 2019 study showing seniors were a significant economic driver and recruitment opportunity for the community, prompted Grow Hays to embark on the Grove project.

Although the addition is geared toward seniors, it will have no age restrictions, Williams said.

The addition is conveniently located next to HaysMed as well as the Center for Health Improvement.

In addition, the Grove will feature a multi-use path that will eventually connect existing paths running from the Hays Recreation Center, behind HaysMed, to the Sternberg Museum and on to Hall Street, and ultimately 41st Street in northwest Hays.

When both the Grove trail and a section being built by the city connect, there will be six miles of continuous trail.

&nbsp;Some of the features of the homes will include • Slab on grade construction • 3-foot doorways • Open floor plans • 9-foot ceilings • Granite, quartz or onyx counter tops • Solid core doors • High efficiency HVAC • Optional storm shelters

A homeowners association will be responsible for all exterior maintenance.

This includes • Insurance for exteriors and exterior repairs on all of the homes, including roofs and siding • Lawn maintenance • Snow removal&nbsp;

Homeowners association fees have yet to be calculated. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/43bd3666-a30c-449a-acde-9e1bec020952">The Grove is being built within a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District, so homeowners will not be required to pay special assessments.</a>

Homeowners will be responsible for insuring the interior and their contents.

"You do subject yourself to certain rules and regulations," Williams said. "You're not going to park your boat in front of your unit. You're not going to park your camper in front of your unit. There are some limitations. That is just the way it is.

"Unfortunately, if you can't live with that, it's probably not a good place for you to be."

Pets will be allowed, although the homeowners association may have restrictions on the types and sizes of pets.

The homeowners association will likely restrict short-term rentals and Airbnbs. Although there may be some allowances for long-term rentals, Williams said he doubted investors would purchase these homes at these prices as rental properties.

The original plan was to build multi-family units on the corner of 27th and Canterbury streets, but developers seemed less interested in this concept, Williams said.

Grow Hays pivoted and decided to build the Villas.

These will be two-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car-garage patio homes.

The homes' entrances will face each other in a courtyard configuration, with the garages in the rear of the homes off of a paved alley.

Williams said the housing addition will be dense, but private. The patios will be on opposite sides of each other. There will also be provisions for privacy or pet fencing if desired.

The Villas will be offered at a lower price point, with smaller square footage — specifically 1,000 square feet — compared to the 1,500 square feet in the homes in the Grove proper.

The villas will feature similar interior amenities to those of the other homes in the Grove. The garages will be slightly oversized to accommodate more storage. The patio homes can also be equipped with storm shelters.

Work on the Villas is further behind the Grove proper because Grow Hays was waiting to take control of the last existing home on the parcel. It will be either sold and moved or demolished, Williams said.

The larger homes in the Grove will cost about $390,000 or more, depending on floor plan and interior finishes. The Villas will cost about $295,000 or more.

Williams said although the cost of buying a new home is greater than that of an older home, it may result in your homeowner's insurance, property taxes and utility expenses decreasing.

Williams said Grow Hays has received interest from about 50 potential homeowners, but he does not think all of those individuals will ultimately purchase homes.

The build is going to start with at least five homes, he said.

If you are interested in learning more about buying a home in the Grove, you can contact Grow Hays at&nbsp;785-628-3102.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750887395295.jpeg" alt="An aerial photo of the Grove housing addition on north Canterbury. Water, sewer, curbs and gutter should be complete within the next few weeks. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>An aerial photo of the Grove housing addition on north Canterbury. Water, sewer, curbs and gutter should be complete within the next few weeks. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostConstruction is scheduled to begin&nbsp; before the end of the year on homes in the Grove addition.The addition will include 50 single-family homes, 50 villas and four duplexes.Construction crews, which are ahead of schedule, are very close to completing the streets, sewer, water curbs and gutters. That work is expected to be completed within the next few weeks, followed by the electrical installation.&nbsp;Construction on houses should start in September or October.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750887660555.jpeg" alt="The layout of the Grove housing addition.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The layout of the Grove housing addition.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52b97519-b934-46eb-bdf3-8bd246bf2675">Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center</a>&nbsp;is expected to be completed by late July. The center will be the new home for the Hays Senior Center, a new child care center operated by Bright Minds Academy and multi-use community rooms.A ribbon cutting for that facility is set for 9 a.m. Aug. 29.Grow Hays is still a little short of budget for the community center. Anyone interesting in donating to that project can contact Grow Hays at&nbsp;785-628-3102.Mayor Sandy Jacobs said the community center will be an amazing facility. She said she expects many more seniors to participate in the senior center when it moves into its new facility."Besides that, when you walk into that big open space with the glass in the back, it is really a special place," she said, "and I can't imagine if I lived in the Grove that I wouldn't want to rent those units for family gatherings."The other housing addition Grow Hays has been heavily involved with, the Tallgrass Addition, has been highly successful, Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750887699603.jpeg" alt="Aerial view of the Grove. Fifty slab-on-grade homes will be built in the main portion of the addition." />
 <figcaption>Aerial view of the Grove. Fifty slab-on-grade homes will be built in the main portion of the addition.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750887846184.jpeg" alt="Aerial photo of the Grove. The area that will be the Villas is on the lower left side of the image.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Aerial photo of the Grove. The area that will be the Villas is on the lower left side of the image.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Since developers began building there in 2022, all the homes have sold before they were completed, with a waiting list still in place.That demand, combined with a 2019 study showing seniors were a significant economic driver and recruitment opportunity for the community, prompted Grow Hays to embark on the Grove project.Although the addition is geared toward seniors, it will have no age restrictions, Williams said.The addition is conveniently located next to HaysMed as well as the Center for Health Improvement.In addition, the Grove will feature a multi-use path that will eventually connect existing paths running from the Hays Recreation Center, behind HaysMed, to the Sternberg Museum and on to Hall Street, and ultimately 41st Street in northwest Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750887774653.jpeg" alt="What the exteriors and courtyard for the Villas might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>What the exteriors and courtyard for the Villas might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750887798785.jpeg" alt="Villa garage. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Villa garage. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750887810052.jpeg" alt="What a patio for one of the Villa patio homes might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>What a patio for one of the Villa patio homes might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>When both the Grove trail and a section being built by the city connect, there will be six miles of continuous trail.&nbsp;Some of the features of the homes will include • Slab on grade construction • 3-foot doorways • Open floor plans • 9-foot ceilings • Granite, quartz or onyx counter tops • Solid core doors • High efficiency HVAC • Optional storm sheltersA homeowners association will be responsible for all exterior maintenance.This includes • Insurance for exteriors and exterior repairs on all of the homes, including roofs and siding • Lawn maintenance • Snow removal&nbsp;Homeowners association fees have yet to be calculated. <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/43bd3666-a30c-449a-acde-9e1bec020952">The Grove is being built within a Reinvestment Housing Incentive District, so homeowners will not be required to pay special assessments.</a>Homeowners will be responsible for insuring the interior and their contents."You do subject yourself to certain rules and regulations," Williams said. "You're not going to park your boat in front of your unit. You're not going to park your camper in front of your unit. There are some limitations. That is just the way it is."Unfortunately, if you can't live with that, it's probably not a good place for you to be."Pets will be allowed, although the homeowners association may have restrictions on the types and sizes of pets.The homeowners association will likely restrict short-term rentals and Airbnbs. Although there may be some allowances for long-term rentals, Williams said he doubted investors would purchase these homes at these prices as rental properties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750888221379.jpeg" alt="An example of what the interior of one of the Villas might look like. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>An example of what the interior of one of the Villas might look like. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750888236260.jpeg" alt="An example of what a master suite in one of the Villas might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>An example of what a master suite in one of the Villas might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750888249425.jpeg" alt="What a kitchen in one of the Villas might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>What a kitchen in one of the Villas might look like.&nbsp;Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The original plan was to build multi-family units on the corner of 27th and Canterbury streets, but developers seemed less interested in this concept, Williams said.Grow Hays pivoted and decided to build the Villas.These will be two-bedroom, two-bathroom, two-car-garage patio homes.The homes' entrances will face each other in a courtyard configuration, with the garages in the rear of the homes off of a paved alley.Williams said the housing addition will be dense, but private. The patios will be on opposite sides of each other. There will also be provisions for privacy or pet fencing if desired.The Villas will be offered at a lower price point, with smaller square footage — specifically 1,000 square feet — compared to the 1,500 square feet in the homes in the Grove proper.The villas will feature similar interior amenities to those of the other homes in the Grove. The garages will be slightly oversized to accommodate more storage. The patio homes can also be equipped with storm shelters.Work on the Villas is further behind the Grove proper because Grow Hays was waiting to take control of the last existing home on the parcel. It will be either sold and moved or demolished, Williams said.The larger homes in the Grove will cost about $390,000 or more, depending on floor plan and interior finishes. The Villas will cost about $295,000 or more.Williams said although the cost of buying a new home is greater than that of an older home, it may result in your homeowner's insurance, property taxes and utility expenses decreasing.Williams said Grow Hays has received interest from about 50 potential homeowners, but he does not think all of those individuals will ultimately purchase homes.The build is going to start with at least five homes, he said.If you are interested in learning more about buying a home in the Grove, you can contact Grow Hays at&nbsp;785-628-3102.

Construction to begin soon on homes in Grove addition

WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 11 Iranian nationals illegally in the United States over the weekend. ICE also arrested a U.S. citizen who threatened to kill ICE law enforcement while harboring an illegal alien from Iran. The weekend arrests reflect the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) commitment to keeping known and suspected terrorists out of American communities, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.

“Under Secretary Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden’s fraudulent parole programs or otherwise,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don’t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump’s mandate to secure the homeland.” 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782397107.png" alt="Ribvar Karimi -photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Ribvar Karimi -photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested 11 Iranian nationals illegally in the United States over the weekend. ICE also arrested a U.S. citizen who threatened to kill ICE law enforcement while harboring an illegal alien from Iran. The weekend arrests reflect the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) commitment to keeping known and suspected terrorists out of American communities, according to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security.“Under Secretary Noem, DHS has been full throttle on identifying and arresting known or suspected terrorists and violent extremists that illegally entered this country, came in through Biden’s fraudulent parole programs or otherwise,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “We have been saying we are getting the worst of the worst out—and we are. We don’t wait until a military operation to execute; we proactively deliver on President Trump’s mandate to secure the homeland.” <ul>
 <li>On June 22, ICE Atlanta arrested&nbsp;Ribvar Karimi&nbsp;in Locust, Alabama. Karimi reportedly served as an&nbsp;Iranian Army sniper&nbsp;from 2018 to 2021 and at the time of his arrest, in his possession, he had an Islamic Republic of Iran Army identification card. He entered the U.S. on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uscis.gov/family/family-of-us-citizens/visas-for-fiancees-of-us-citizens" target="_blank">K-1 visa</a>, which is reserved for aliens engaged to be married to American citizens, in October 2024 under the Biden administration. Karimi never adjusted his status — a legal requirement — and is removable from the United States. He’s currently in ICE custody, where he’ll remain pending removal proceedings.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>On June 22, ICE Houston officials arrested&nbsp;Behzad Sepehrian Bahary Nejad, an alien with a final order of removal, who was&nbsp;carrying a loaded 9mm pistol&nbsp;at the time of his arrest. Sepehrian entered the U.S. in Houston on Dec. 9, 2016, on an&nbsp;<a href="https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/student-visa.html" target="_blank">F-1 student visa</a>. On Aug. 19, 2017, Harris County police&nbsp;arrested him for assaulting a family member by impeding breathing; his wife told the local assistant district attorney that Sepehrian was threatening her and obtained a restraining order against him. She also alleged he was threatening her family in Iran. On July 23, 2018, the University of Texas terminated Sepehrian’s status after he was placed on academic suspension. An immigration judge ordered him removed on Oct. 10, 2019, after he was released on an immigration bond; he filed a motion to reopen his case, which a Department of Justice immigration judge denied. Sepehrian is in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782459722.png" alt="Nejad-photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Nejad-photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>Also in Houston, ICE arrested&nbsp;Hamid Reza Bayat, an Iranian national an immigration judge&nbsp;ordered removed nearly 20 years ago, on Aug. 4, 2005. Twice&nbsp;convicted of drug crimes&nbsp;and once convicted of driving on a suspended license, Bayat served time before receiving his final order of removal. He’s now in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782512971.png" alt="Bayat photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Bayat photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>On June 22, in Tempe — a Phoenix, Arizona suburb — ICE agents arrested&nbsp;Mehrzad Asadi Eidivand, an Iranian citizen with a final order of removal&nbsp;convicted of threatening a law enforcement officer&nbsp;and being an alien in&nbsp;possession of a firearm. Eidivand entered the U.S. in San Ysidro, California, in June 2012. In August 2013, an immigration judge granted him a voluntary departure, which allows an alien to leave the country without a formal ICE removal, but he never left. Eidivand will remain in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782589954.png" alt="Eidivand photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Eidivand photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>At the same residence, officials arrested&nbsp;Linet Vartaniann, a United States citizen, for threatening a law enforcement officer and harboring Eidivand, an illegal alien. Vartaniann&nbsp;threatened to open fire on ICE officials&nbsp;if they entered her home, then said she would go outside and “shoot ICE officers in the head.” ICE officials obtained a search warrant for the residence and arrested the pair, who are now charged with federal crimes.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782653736.png" alt="Vartaniann-photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Vartaniann-photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>On June 22, in Gluckstadt, Mississippi, ICE officers and agents arrested&nbsp;Yousef Mehridehno, an Iranian national and former lawful permanent resident. The U.S. government terminated Mehridehno’s residency in October 2017 after determining he&nbsp;lied on his original visa application and committed potential marriage fraud.&nbsp;In February, Mehridehno was listed as a&nbsp;known or suspected terrorist, and he’s now in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782701962.png" alt="Mehridehno-photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Mehridehno-photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>On June 22, in Colorado Springs, ICE officials arrested&nbsp;Mahmoud Shafiei&nbsp;and&nbsp;Mehrdad Mehdipour&nbsp;— two illegally present Iranian nationals living together. Immigration officials first encountered Shafiei in Seattle, Washington, in January 1981; a judge ordered him removed in January 1987. His criminal history includes&nbsp;state and federal convictions for drug crimes and arrests for assault and child abuse. U.S. Border Patrol encountered Mehdipour in June 2023 during the Biden administration near Rio Grande Valley, Texas, and processed him as an expedited removal. Both men are in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782773266.png" alt="Shafiei photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Shafiei photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782817364.png" alt="Mehdipour photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Mehdipour photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>On June 22, in St. Paul, Minnesota, ICE arrested&nbsp;Mehran Makari Saheli, a 56-year-old Iranian national. He was&nbsp;convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm&nbsp;in Minneapolis, where he was sentenced to 15 months in prison. He is a former member of off the&nbsp;Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) with admitted connections to Hezbollah.&nbsp;An immigration judge ordered him removed June 28, 2022, under the Biden administration, but he illegally remained in the U.S. Saheli is now in ICE custody pending removal.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782876316.png" alt="Saheli photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Saheli photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>On June 22, ICE San Francisco arrested&nbsp;Bahman Alizadeh Asfestani, a 62-year-old Iranian national, with a&nbsp;criminal history&nbsp;that includes a 1994&nbsp;conviction for petty theft&nbsp;and a 1995&nbsp;conviction of possession of a controlled substance for sale. Asfestani was&nbsp;sentenced to 10 years in state prison for the drug conviction&nbsp;and is now in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750782924349.png" alt="Asfestani photo Homeland Security" />
 <figcaption>Asfestani photo Homeland Security</figcaption>
 </figure><ul>
 <li>On June 23, ICE Buffalo arrested&nbsp;Mohammad Rafikian, a 65-year-old Iranian national&nbsp;convicted of grand larceny,&nbsp;schemes to defraud, criminal impersonation and practicing as an attorney.  </li><li>On the same date, ICE San Diego arrested&nbsp;Arkavan Babk Moirokorli, a 57-year-old Iranian national&nbsp;convicted of forging an official seal. Both are in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.</li>
 </ul>

ICE arrests Iranian nationals in US amid fears of secret terror cells

Arthur's Pizza &amp; Mexican Foods, 103 W. Ninth St. in Ellis, has been a favorite local restaurant since its opening in 1986.

Owned by Gilbert and Cheryl Kinderknecht since 1998, Arthurs offers delicious pizza and Mexican cuisine, and a Marvelous Monthly Meal each month. Those specials have included pizza, pasta, soup, rolls and Mexican entrees. June's Marvelous Monthly Meal is Chicken Bacon Ranch Nachos

Arthur's has garnered several accolades over the years:

* Voted #1 in the 8 Wonders of Northwest Kansas Cuisine in 2010

* Featured in Kansas Magazine's online poll as one of Kansas' Best Pizza Places in 2011

* Received a Merritt Award from the Kansas Department of Commerce in 2013

* Included in Only in Your State/Kansas' list of 9 Pizza Places So Good Your Mouth May Explode in 2015

* Chicken Alfredo Pizza ranked #2 on the list of 13 dishes you have to eat in Kansas before you die in 2016

* Retail/Service Business of the Year and the Northwest Kansas Area Retail/Service in October 2024 from Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, David Toland

Arthur's is a major sponsor of the Ellis Polar Express. The Polar Express will be held Dec. 5, 6 and 7. They support fundraising efforts for the Ellis High School sophomore class, which pays for the junior/senior prom each year. They also offer discounts to nonprofit groups in the area for fundraising or event food. They host several kids events throughout the year, such as P is for Pizza school tours, Dino Day and Arthur’s Pizza Academy, with details below:

Do you like to eat pizza? Register to be a part of the Ellis Rec Commission/Arthur's Pizza Academy. You'll get your hands on experience with making dough, rolling out crust, folding boxes, topping your pizza and much more. Make your own pizza and serve it to two guests.

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Lunch served at noon)

Cost: $30 per kid (Includes a T-shirt, medium pizza and three drinks)

(Each participant can bring a max of two guests for lunch)

For more information, contact Katie Armstrong at 785-726-3718 or email at ellisrecoffice@gbta.net.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749585115755.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Arthur's Pizza &amp; Mexican Foods, 103 W. Ninth St. in Ellis, has been a favorite local restaurant since its opening in 1986.Owned by Gilbert and Cheryl Kinderknecht since 1998, Arthurs offers delicious pizza and Mexican cuisine, and a Marvelous Monthly Meal each month. Those specials have included pizza, pasta, soup, rolls and Mexican entrees. June's Marvelous Monthly Meal is Chicken Bacon Ranch NachosArthur's has garnered several accolades over the years:* Voted #1 in the 8 Wonders of Northwest Kansas Cuisine in 2010* Featured in Kansas Magazine's online poll as one of Kansas' Best Pizza Places in 2011* Received a Merritt Award from the Kansas Department of Commerce in 2013* Included in Only in Your State/Kansas' list of 9 Pizza Places So Good Your Mouth May Explode in 2015* Chicken Alfredo Pizza ranked #2 on the list of 13 dishes you have to eat in Kansas before you die in 2016* Retail/Service Business of the Year and the Northwest Kansas Area Retail/Service in October 2024 from Lieutenant Governor of Kansas, David Toland<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749585156134.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Arthur's is a major sponsor of the Ellis Polar Express. The Polar Express will be held Dec. 5, 6 and 7. They support fundraising efforts for the Ellis High School sophomore class, which pays for the junior/senior prom each year. They also offer discounts to nonprofit groups in the area for fundraising or event food. They host several kids events throughout the year, such as P is for Pizza school tours, Dino Day and Arthur’s Pizza Academy, with details below:<h2>Arthur's Pizza Academy 2025</h2>Do you like to eat pizza? Register to be a part of the Ellis Rec Commission/Arthur's Pizza Academy. You'll get your hands on experience with making dough, rolling out crust, folding boxes, topping your pizza and much more. Make your own pizza and serve it to two guests.Registration deadline: July 23, 2025Age: 7-12 years oldTime: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Lunch served at noon)Place: Arthur's Pizza and Mexican FoodsCost: $30 per kid (Includes a T-shirt, medium pizza and three drinks)Date: Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025Limitation: Max of 15 kids(Each participant can bring a max of two guests for lunch)Registration ends on July 23, 2025.For more information, contact Katie Armstrong at 785-726-3718 or email at ellisrecoffice@gbta.net.

Omer Aloysius Knoll

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health this week reported new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 79 cases in 11 counties.

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. logged fewer than 30&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">measles cases</a>&nbsp;last week as Ohio health officials confirmed three outbreaks in two counties were over.

There have been 1,197 confirmed measles cases this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak</a>&nbsp;raged during the late winter and spring, confirmed two cases in the last week.

There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,083 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through June 10. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.

Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">868 as of Thursday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 2,179 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.

Other U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Kansas Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

How many measles cases are there in Texas?

There are a total of 744 cases across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">35 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>, state health officials said Tuesday.

Throughout the outbreak, 96 people have been hospitalized.

<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-five percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 411 cases since late January — just under 2% of the county’s residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.

How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?

New Mexico held steady Friday with a total of 81 cases.

Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two. Chaves, Curry and San Juan counties have one each.

An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care.

Oklahoma stayed steady Friday with a total of 16 confirmed and three probable cases.

The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.

Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9. All four were unvaccinated and had a history of recent international travel.

Colorado has seen a total of 15 measles cases in 2025, which includes one outbreak of eight related cases.

The outbreak is linked to a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May, and includes four cases in Arapahoe County, three in El Paso County and one in Denver, plus a person who doesn't live in Colorado.

Health officials confirmed an unrelated case Friday in a Boulder County resident. The person was fully vaccinated but had "recently traveled to Europe, where there are a large number of measles cases,” the state health department said. Officials are monitoring exposures sites in Boulder and Denver.

Other counties that have seen measles this year include Archuleta and Pueblo.

Illinois health officials confirmed a four-case outbreak on May 5 in the far southern part of the state. It grew to eight cases as of June 6, but no new cases were reported in the following week, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

The state's other two cases so far this year were in Cook County, and are unrelated to the southern Illinois outbreak.

Montana had 20 measles cases as of Tuesday. Twelve were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years.

Flathead and Yellowstone counties had two cases each, and Hill County had four cases.

There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

How many cases are there in North Dakota?

North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, was up to 34 cases as of June 6, but has held steady since. Two of the people have been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated.

There were 16 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. On the eastern side of the state, there were 10 cases in Grand Forks County and seven cases in Cass County. Burke County, in northwest North Dakota on the border of Saskatchewan, Canada, had one case.

Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.

Earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania were declared over by health officials after six weeks of no new cases. Tennessee’s outbreak also appears to be over.

Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.

People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."

There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Health this week reported new cases of measles over the past week in the state for a total of 79 cases in 11 counties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750280026458.png" alt="KDHE image" />
 <figcaption>KDHE image</figcaption>
 </figure>According to the Associated Press, the U.S. logged fewer than 30&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-vaccine-mmr-covid-exemptions-87cbfe44d8599b68408861f9b62421ed">measles cases</a>&nbsp;last week as Ohio health officials confirmed three outbreaks in two counties were over.There have been 1,197 confirmed measles cases this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday. Health officials in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c">Texas, where the nation's biggest outbreak</a>&nbsp;raged during the late winter and spring, confirmed two cases in the last week.There are three other&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-mexico-canada-ontario-0956a30c043b030ae79bc9f67c6ce89c">major outbreaks</a>&nbsp;in North America. The longest, in Ontario, Canada, has resulted in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/Documents/M/24/measles-ontario-epi-summary.pdf?rev=3d8451977cd34084a8b494a6a11b4f1a&amp;sc_lang=en&amp;hash=48D1A6D0D037B39BD421AAF060204EE0">2,083 cases</a>&nbsp;from mid-October through June 10. The province logged its first death June 5 in a baby who got congenital measles but also had other preexisting conditions.Another outbreak in Alberta, Canada, has sickened&nbsp;<a href="https://www.alberta.ca/measles">868 as of Thursday</a>. And the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mexico-measles-vaccines-misinformation-mmr-mennonites-misinformation-ea6158b9a4d513b20f33cbc09034e5c2">Mexican state of Chihuahua</a>&nbsp;had 2,179 measles cases and four deaths as of Friday, according to data from the state health ministry.Other U.S.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-kansas-ohio-mmr-vaccination-new-mexico-texas-569474272df9baaad1f6d73462ebe92a">states with active outbreaks</a>&nbsp;— which the CDC defines as three or more related cases — include Kansas Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma.In the U.S.,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">two elementary school-aged children</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">epicenter in West Texas</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">adult in New Mexico</a>&nbsp;have died of measles this year. All were unvaccinated.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-new-mexico-mmr-outbreak-vaccines-408371700e3ab548777bf0354e586549">Measles</a>&nbsp;is caused by a highly contagious virus that’s airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rfk-vaccines-autism-measles-obesity-food-dye-f26089856550e978d28fd25b653d8103">preventable through vaccines</a>, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.<h2>How many measles cases are there in Texas?</h2>There are a total of 744 cases across&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/sxSwi/?v=7">35 counties, most of them in West Texas</a>, state health officials said Tuesday.Throughout the outbreak, 96 people have been hospitalized.<a href="https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-2025">State health officials estimated</a>&nbsp;less than 1% of cases — fewer than 10 — are actively infectious. Fifty-five percent of Texas’ cases are in Gaines County, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has had 411 cases since late January — just under 2% of the county’s residents.The April 3 death in Texas was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-rfk-death-vaccine-4e28b0edf5cab47980b40b2d47f0ec50">8-year-old child,</a>&nbsp;according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-measles-outbreak-rfk-jr-ben-edwards-2dd7c79d47c64ad2e6d4a4ac3c87ec1f">Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.</a>&nbsp;Local health officials said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of “what the child’s doctor described as measles pulmonary failure.” A unvaccinated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9">child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas</a>&nbsp;in late February; Kennedy said the child was 6.<h2>How many measles cases are there in New Mexico?</h2>New Mexico held steady Friday with a total of 81 cases.Seven people have been hospitalized since the outbreak started. Most of the state’s cases are in Lea County. Sandoval County near Albuquerque has six cases, Eddy County has three, Doña Ana County has two. Chaves, Curry and San Juan counties have one each.An unvaccinated adult died of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-death-new-mexico-texas-outbreak-b9aef6fdd51fbb4ebd1ce9ce28e33299">measles-related illness March 6</a>. The person did not seek medical care.<h2>How many cases are there in Oklahoma?</h2>Oklahoma stayed steady Friday with a total of 16 confirmed and three probable cases.The state health department is not releasing which counties have cases.<h2>How many cases are there in Arizona?</h2>Arizona has four cases in Navajo County. They are linked to a single source, the county health department said June 9. All four were unvaccinated and had a history of recent international travel.<h2>How many cases are there in Colorado?</h2>Colorado has seen a total of 15 measles cases in 2025, which includes one outbreak of eight related cases.The outbreak is linked to a Turkish Airlines flight that landed at Denver International Airport in mid-May, and includes four cases in Arapahoe County, three in El Paso County and one in Denver, plus a person who doesn't live in Colorado.Health officials confirmed an unrelated case Friday in a Boulder County resident. The person was fully vaccinated but had "recently traveled to Europe, where there are a large number of measles cases,” the state health department said. Officials are monitoring exposures sites in Boulder and Denver.Other counties that have seen measles this year include Archuleta and Pueblo.<h2>How many cases are there in Illinois?</h2>Illinois health officials confirmed a four-case outbreak on May 5 in the far southern part of the state. It grew to eight cases as of June 6, but no new cases were reported in the following week, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.The state's other two cases so far this year were in Cook County, and are unrelated to the southern Illinois outbreak.<h2>How many cases are there in Montana?</h2>Montana had 20 measles cases as of Tuesday. Twelve were in Gallatin County, which is where the first cases showed up — Montana’s first in 35 years.Flathead and Yellowstone counties had two cases each, and Hill County had four cases.There are outbreaks in neighboring North Dakota and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.<h2>How many cases are there in North Dakota?</h2>North Dakota, which hadn't seen measles since 2011, was up to 34 cases as of June 6, but has held steady since. Two of the people have been hospitalized, and all of the people with confirmed cases were not vaccinated.There were 16 cases in Williams County in western North Dakota on the Montana border. On the eastern side of the state, there were 10 cases in Grand Forks County and seven cases in Cass County. Burke County, in northwest North Dakota on the border of Saskatchewan, Canada, had one case.<h2>Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?</h2>Measles cases also have been reported this year in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.Earlier outbreaks in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania were declared over by health officials after six weeks of no new cases. Tennessee’s outbreak also appears to be over.Cases and outbreaks in the U.S. are frequently traced to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-asia-measles-rates-unicef-who-report-2f888732cc297090238956986fd89cc4">someone who caught the disease abroad</a>. The CDC said in May that more than twice as many measles have come from outside of the U.S. compared to May of last year, and most of those are in unvaccinated Americans returning home. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles.<h2>What do you need to know about the MMR vaccine?</h2>The best way to avoid measles is to get the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccine-safety/vaccines/mmr.html">measles, mumps and rubella</a>&nbsp;vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.Getting another MMR shot as an adult is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don’t need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective vaccine made from “killed” virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said.People who have documentation that they had measles are immune, and those born before 1957 generally don’t need the shots because so many children got measles back then that they have “presumptive immunity."Measles has a harder time spreading through communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — due to “herd immunity.” But childhood vaccination rates have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/measles-texas-vaccines-funding-cuts-5785985d6b74024b0502f6a2fc1576e2">declined nationwide</a>&nbsp;since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.<h2>What are the symptoms of measles?</h2>Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/measles/signs-symptoms/index.html">dangerous complications</a>&nbsp;such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.<h2>How can you treat measles?</h2>There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

KDHE reports more measles cases in Kansas this week

Melva Jo Dortland, 94, of Gorham,
Kansas, died on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays,
Kansas.&nbsp; 

Melva was born on November 03,
1930, in Luray, Kansas, the daughter of Melvin and Josephine (Shiroky)
Schurr.&nbsp; As a young girl she lived in
Luray and graduated from Luray High School before moving to Russell,
Kansas.&nbsp; She was united in marriage to
Herbert J. “Junior” Black on March 05, 1949, in Great Bend, Kansas, from this
union they were blessed with 4 children Cathy, Steve, Roger and Beverly.&nbsp; Herbert died on March 27, 1964, in a tragic
car accident.&nbsp; Melva found love again and
was united in marriage to Elmer Dortland on April 20, 1965, in Gorham, Kansas,
and from this union they were blessed with 2 children JoAnn and Darrell.&nbsp; Elmer preceded her in death on October 12,
2010.&nbsp; She was a longtime member of St.
Mary Catholic Church of Gorham.&nbsp; She was
very active in her church life.&nbsp; She was
a member of the Gorham parish council, the Daughters of Isabella, President of
the Salina Diocese Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) and the first women in the
Gorham church to be a lecture and eucharistic minister.&nbsp; Her faith in God was incredible.

Later in life she enjoyed visiting
with family and friends, she loved to talk, watching news and sports on TV,
playing cards, doing puzzles, and her favorite getting Dairy Queen.&nbsp; Most of all she loved her family.&nbsp; She was a strong woman who was there to
support her family through every step of life.&nbsp;
She loved to cook, care, play, listen, and watch them.&nbsp; She was proud of her children and the their
families.

Surviving family includes her
daughter Cathy Jacobs (Steve) of Gorham, Kansas, son Roger Black (Trudy) of
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, daughter Beverly Driscoll of Hoisington, Kansas, daughter
JoAnn Kilian (Stuart) and son Darrell Dortland (Kayla) all of Gorham, Kansas;
brother George Schurr (Pat) and sister Donna Frederick all of Salina, Kansas
and sister Eva Jean Hackerott of Topeka, Kansas; 13 grandchildren Brenda
Slattery, Kevin Jacobs, Stacey McKenna, Kyle Jacobs, Jaime Liudahl, Sarah Rosa,
Ben Black, Chris and David Driscoll, Cameron Kilian, Joseph, Tiffany and
Camille Dortland and many great grandchildren.&nbsp;


She was preceded in death by her
parents, 2 husbands, son Steve Black, brother Richard Schurr and granddaughter
Valerie Boomhower.

A celebration of the funeral mass
will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic
Church in Gorham, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will
follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gorham, Kansas.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on
Friday, June 20, 2025, at the mortuary.&nbsp;
The vigil and rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Friday evening, June 20,
2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Gorham with family greeting guests from 6
P.M. to 7 P.M.&nbsp;

 In lieu of flowers the
family requests memorials be given to St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gorham,
Kansas.&nbsp; Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary
of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750257613991.jpeg" alt="Melva Jo Dortland" />
 <figcaption>Melva Jo Dortland</figcaption>
 </figure>Melva Jo Dortland, 94, of Gorham,
Kansas, died on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Hays Medical Center in Hays,
Kansas.&nbsp; Melva was born on November 03,
1930, in Luray, Kansas, the daughter of Melvin and Josephine (Shiroky)
Schurr.&nbsp; As a young girl she lived in
Luray and graduated from Luray High School before moving to Russell,
Kansas.&nbsp; She was united in marriage to
Herbert J. “Junior” Black on March 05, 1949, in Great Bend, Kansas, from this
union they were blessed with 4 children Cathy, Steve, Roger and Beverly.&nbsp; Herbert died on March 27, 1964, in a tragic
car accident.&nbsp; Melva found love again and
was united in marriage to Elmer Dortland on April 20, 1965, in Gorham, Kansas,
and from this union they were blessed with 2 children JoAnn and Darrell.&nbsp; Elmer preceded her in death on October 12,
2010.&nbsp; She was a longtime member of St.
Mary Catholic Church of Gorham.&nbsp; She was
very active in her church life.&nbsp; She was
a member of the Gorham parish council, the Daughters of Isabella, President of
the Salina Diocese Council of Catholic Women (SDCCW) and the first women in the
Gorham church to be a lecture and eucharistic minister.&nbsp; Her faith in God was incredible.Later in life she enjoyed visiting
with family and friends, she loved to talk, watching news and sports on TV,
playing cards, doing puzzles, and her favorite getting Dairy Queen.&nbsp; Most of all she loved her family.&nbsp; She was a strong woman who was there to
support her family through every step of life.&nbsp;
She loved to cook, care, play, listen, and watch them.&nbsp; She was proud of her children and the their
families.Surviving family includes her
daughter Cathy Jacobs (Steve) of Gorham, Kansas, son Roger Black (Trudy) of
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, daughter Beverly Driscoll of Hoisington, Kansas, daughter
JoAnn Kilian (Stuart) and son Darrell Dortland (Kayla) all of Gorham, Kansas;
brother George Schurr (Pat) and sister Donna Frederick all of Salina, Kansas
and sister Eva Jean Hackerott of Topeka, Kansas; 13 grandchildren Brenda
Slattery, Kevin Jacobs, Stacey McKenna, Kyle Jacobs, Jaime Liudahl, Sarah Rosa,
Ben Black, Chris and David Driscoll, Cameron Kilian, Joseph, Tiffany and
Camille Dortland and many great grandchildren.&nbsp;
She was preceded in death by her
parents, 2 husbands, son Steve Black, brother Richard Schurr and granddaughter
Valerie Boomhower.A celebration of the funeral mass
will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at St. Mary Catholic
Church in Gorham, Kansas.&nbsp; Burial will
follow at the St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gorham, Kansas.&nbsp; Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. on
Friday, June 20, 2025, at the mortuary.&nbsp;
The vigil and rosary will be held at 7 P.M. on Friday evening, June 20,
2025, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Gorham with family greeting guests from 6
P.M. to 7 P.M.&nbsp; In lieu of flowers the
family requests memorials be given to St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gorham,
Kansas.&nbsp; Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary
of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Melva Jo Dortland

By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lolita-c-baldor">LOLITA C. BALDOR</a>

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel from Iranian attacks as President Donald Trump warns Tehran to step back from the conflict.

Trump’s social media posts saying his patience with Iran was “wearing thin” have raised the possibility of deepening U.S. involvement, perhaps by using its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bunker-buster-bomb-israel-iran-fordo-fordow-b2-nuclear-8a612cbf16aa0f99bd9992334ffc93d7">bunker-busting bomb</a>&nbsp;to strike a key Iranian nuclear site built deep underground in the mountains.

Israel doesn’t have the massive munition it would take to destroy the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8758704e349e4a899554d732799c1b31">Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant</a>, or the aircraft needed to deliver it. Only the U.S. does.

As America’s national security leaders discuss the next steps, the Pentagon has moved to ensure that its troops and bases in the region are protected.

Here’s a look at the U.S. military presence in the Middle East:

In a social media post, Trump warned that “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.”

U.S. officials insisted as of Tuesday that the American military has not taken any offensive actions against Iran, only defensive strikes to take out incoming Iranian missiles to protect Israel.

Additional U.S. fighter jets and refueling tankers have been deployed to the region, but officials have declined to provide specific numbers. Fighter jets have joined in launching strikes to defend Israel, but officials said Tuesday that no American aircraft were over Iran.

Aurora Intel, a group that reviews open source information in real time in the Middle East, said the U.S. Air Force had put additional refueling aircraft and fighter jets in strategic locations across Europe, including England, Spain, Germany and Greece. The information was obtained from public aviation tracking websites.

U.S. fighter jets have been patrolling the skies around the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and bases in the region are on heightened alert and are taking additional security precautions, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not provided any details, but said on Fox News Channel late Monday that the military movements were to “ensure that our people are safe.”

Warships taking out Iranian missiles and ready to protect US bases

American warships also are shooting down Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel, with the USS The Sullivans and the USS Arleigh Burke launching strikes over the weekend.

The Sullivans has been joined in the Eastern Mediterranean by the USS Thomas Hudner this week to continue those defense strikes, while the Arleigh Burke has moved away from the area, according to a U.S. official.

The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier is in the Arabian Sea with the four warships in its strike group. They are not participating in the defense of Israel. But they are positioned to provide security for U.S. troops and bases along the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

The USS Nimitz has been long scheduled to take over for the Carl Vinson and is heading west from the Indo-Pacific region toward the Middle East. The official said it is slated to arrive in the region by the end of the month, and the two carriers would likely overlap at least for a short time before the Vinson heads home to San Diego.

There also are destroyers in the Red Sea, and others are based in the Western Mediterranean and participating in exercises in the Baltic Sea.

US troops are on heightened alert and families are allowed to leave

The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-department-embassy-baghdad-f892ebd6a50850ef5650f31819541bff">military dependents voluntarily leave</a>&nbsp;bases, in anticipation of potential strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran.

Officials said they were not aware of many families actually leaving.

Typically around 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a U.S. official.

That number surged as high as 43,000 last October in response to heightened tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.

The Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is the only aircraft that can carry the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, known as the bunker buster.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696803172229.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/author/lolita-c-baldor">LOLITA C. BALDOR</a>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is shifting military aircraft and warships into and around the Middle East to protect Israel from Iranian attacks as President Donald Trump warns Tehran to step back from the conflict.Trump’s social media posts saying his patience with Iran was “wearing thin” have raised the possibility of deepening U.S. involvement, perhaps by using its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bunker-buster-bomb-israel-iran-fordo-fordow-b2-nuclear-8a612cbf16aa0f99bd9992334ffc93d7">bunker-busting bomb</a>&nbsp;to strike a key Iranian nuclear site built deep underground in the mountains.Israel doesn’t have the massive munition it would take to destroy the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/8758704e349e4a899554d732799c1b31">Fordo nuclear fuel enrichment plant</a>, or the aircraft needed to deliver it. Only the U.S. does.As America’s national security leaders discuss the next steps, the Pentagon has moved to ensure that its troops and bases in the region are protected.Here’s a look at the U.S. military presence in the Middle East:<h2>US aircraft moving to the Middle East</h2>In a social media post, Trump warned that “we now have complete and total control of the skies over Iran.”U.S. officials insisted as of Tuesday that the American military has not taken any offensive actions against Iran, only defensive strikes to take out incoming Iranian missiles to protect Israel.Additional U.S. fighter jets and refueling tankers have been deployed to the region, but officials have declined to provide specific numbers. Fighter jets have joined in launching strikes to defend Israel, but officials said Tuesday that no American aircraft were over Iran.Aurora Intel, a group that reviews open source information in real time in the Middle East, said the U.S. Air Force had put additional refueling aircraft and fighter jets in strategic locations across Europe, including England, Spain, Germany and Greece. The information was obtained from public aviation tracking websites.U.S. fighter jets have been patrolling the skies around the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and bases in the region are on heightened alert and are taking additional security precautions, the officials said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations.Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has not provided any details, but said on Fox News Channel late Monday that the military movements were to “ensure that our people are safe.”<h2>Warships taking out Iranian missiles and ready to protect US bases</h2>American warships also are shooting down Iranian ballistic missiles targeting Israel, with the USS The Sullivans and the USS Arleigh Burke launching strikes over the weekend.The Sullivans has been joined in the Eastern Mediterranean by the USS Thomas Hudner this week to continue those defense strikes, while the Arleigh Burke has moved away from the area, according to a U.S. official.The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier is in the Arabian Sea with the four warships in its strike group. They are not participating in the defense of Israel. But they are positioned to provide security for U.S. troops and bases along the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.The USS Nimitz has been long scheduled to take over for the Carl Vinson and is heading west from the Indo-Pacific region toward the Middle East. The official said it is slated to arrive in the region by the end of the month, and the two carriers would likely overlap at least for a short time before the Vinson heads home to San Diego.There also are destroyers in the Red Sea, and others are based in the Western Mediterranean and participating in exercises in the Baltic Sea.<h2>US troops are on heightened alert and families are allowed to leave</h2>The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/state-department-embassy-baghdad-f892ebd6a50850ef5650f31819541bff">military dependents voluntarily leave</a>&nbsp;bases, in anticipation of potential strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran.Officials said they were not aware of many families actually leaving.Typically around 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a U.S. official.That number surged as high as 43,000 last October in response to heightened tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen.<h2>The B-2 and the bunker buster</h2>The Air Force’s B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is the only aircraft that can carry the 30,000-pound GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, known as the bunker buster.The powerful bomb uses its weight and sheer kinetic force to reach deeply buried targets — and then explode.There are currently no B-2 bombers in the Middle East region, although there are B-52 bombers based at Diego Garcia, and they can deliver smaller munitions.If tapped for use, the B-2 bombers would have to make the 30-hour round trip from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, refueling multiple times.___AP writer Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report.